Bill Text: NJ S3439 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Statewide Rapid Response Emergency Group.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-07 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S3439 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3439-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH P. CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Statewide Rapid Response Emergency Group.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a Statewide Rapid Response Emergency Group and supplementing P.L.2017, c.63.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. For the purposes of this act, "severe weather conditions" means weather related flood, hurricane, nor'easter, snowstorm, tornado, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, or other catastrophe which is of sufficient severity and magnitude to substantially endanger the health, safety, and property of the residents of this State.
2. a. There is established in the State Office of Emergency Management the Statewide Rapid Response Emergency Group.
b. The group shall consist of the following persons or their designees, ex officio:
(1) the Director of the State Office of Emergency Management;
(2) the coordinator of each county office of emergency management;
(3) the Commissioner of Transportation;
(4) the Commissioner of Education;
(5) the Secretary of Higher Education;
(6) the Executive County Superintendent of Schools of each county;
(7) the President of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities; and
(8) the President of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.
c. The group shall develop a Statewide plan to rapidly respond to severe weather conditions. The group specifically shall:
(1) develop protocols for real-time monitoring of weather forecasts;
(2) establish effective means of communication between members of the group and other State officials responsible for weather-related decision making;
(3) identify objective criteria for deploying snow plows and other snow removal equipment;
(4) ascertain methods to maintain the flow of traffic throughout the State, including staggering dismissals of schools and businesses, closing roads, and rerouting traffic; and
(5) any other matter deemed necessary to effectively respond to severe weather conditions.
d. The plan shall be
developed within six months of the effective date of this act. The group shall
annually update the plan to incorporate technological and other innovations.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following enactment, except that the Director of the State Office of Emergency Management may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the Statewide Rapid Response Emergency Group which is required to develop a Statewide plan to rapidly respond to severe weather conditions.
The group is to consist of the Director of the State Office of Emergency Management, the coordinator of each county office of emergency management, the Commissioner of Transportation, the Commissioner of Education, the Secretary of Higher Education, the Executive County Superintendent of Schools of each county; the President of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, and the President of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.
The group specifically is directed by the bill to:
(1) develop protocols for real-time monitoring of weather forecasts;
(2) establish effective means of communication between members of the group and other State officials responsible for weather-related decision making;
(3) identify objective criteria for deploying snow plows and other snow removal equipment;
(4) ascertain methods to maintain the flow of traffic throughout the State, including staggering dismissals of schools and businesses, closing roads, and rerouting traffic; and
(5) any other matter deemed necessary to effectively respond to severe weather conditions.
The bill requires the plan to be developed within six months of the effective date of this act. The group is to annually update the plan to incorporate technological and other innovations.
